Deja Vu: The Packers Take Wide Receiver Davante Adams in the Second Round

Ted Thompson has been general manager of the Packers since 2005. The 2014 NFL draft is the 10th draft he has presided over.

Part of the modusoperandi in Thompson's track record in the nine previous drafts prior to this year, was that Ted has been known for selecting wide receiver talent in the second round.

I wrote about that dynamic in March. On Friday night, it was another case of dejavu, as the Packers selected wide receiver Davante Adams of Fresno State in the second round.

Before Thompson selected Adams last night, he had previously selected Terrence Murphy in 2005, Greg Jennings in 2006, Jordy Nelson in 2008 and Randall Cobb in 2011.

Except for Murphy, who suffered a career-ending neck injury very early in his rookie season, all the other wide receiver selections by Thompson in the second round have been huge successes in Green Bay.

Jennings had a very nice career in seven seasons with the Packers, as he had 425 catches for 6,537 yards and 53 touchdowns. Jennings also came up big in the postseason with the Packers, as he had 50 receptions for 673 yards and six touchdowns.

Nelson has been very good in his six seasons as a Packer, as he has 302 receptions for 4,590 yards and 36 touchdowns. No. 87 has been a big factor in the playoffs as well, as he has 40 catches for 495 yards and four touchdowns.

Cobb has been a dual threat as a wide receiver and also as a return man. In his three-year career as a member of the Packers, Cobb has 136 catches for 1,762 yards and 13 touchdowns. No. 18 also has accumulated over 2,500 return yards on kickoffs and punts with three touchdowns.

Now the Packers have taken another wide receiver in Adams, who looks like he could follow in the footsteps of Jennings, Nelson and Cobb.

In the last two years at Fresno State, Adams has put up some mind-boggling statistics. With quarterback Derek Carr throwing him the football, Adams had 233 receptions for 3,031 yards and 38 touchdowns.

Adams has nice size as well, as he goes 6'1" and is 212 pounds. He didn't run the fastest 40 time [4.56] at the NFL Scouting Combine, but he did show that he has unbelievable hops as he had a 39.5 vertical jump, per NFL.com.

Edgar Bennett, the wide receiver's coach for the Packers, gave his views on Adams, via Packers. com:

You go by the tape. You see a guy getting open. You see a guy at the top of the route creating separation, creating windows for the quarterback to throw the ball in.

And when there is a tight situation and more of a competitive-type throw, you see a guy with strong hands and physicality that can go up and make the tough catch.

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

Although Adams was picked in the same round as Jennings, Nelson and Cobb, he actually looks a lot like James Jones, who Thompson selected in the third round in 2007. Jones recently left the Packers via free agency to join the Raiders.

Bennett also talked about that comparison:

"Some similarities but they're different players. I think each man stands on their own.

"Certainly, some of the things that James was able to accomplish here...one of the most physical receivers I've ever been around. Davante, he'll come in and lay his own foundation."

Bottom line, if history is indeed a blueprint for the future, Adams looks to have a very nice career in Green Bay.

It also doesn't hurt that a quarterback named Aaron Rodgers will be throwing him the ball.